Australian House and Land Package Buying Process (2026 Update)
1. Reserve a Property
Once buyers have chosen the land and house they are happy with, they pay a holding deposit (usually A$1,000 - A$10,000), which enables the agent to apply to the developer to reserve the land. If buyers change their mind before the contract is signed, this holding deposit is refunded in full; if the contract is signed, the holding deposit forms part of the deposit. In addition, under Australia's latest AML regulations, the real estate agent must carry out due diligence on the buyer (including collecting personal information, identity verification and risk assessment) before proceeding to the next step.
The anti-money-laundering obligations for real estate agents take effect from 1 July 2026; for the official explanation, see AUSTRAC:Designated services in the real estate sector
2. Sign the land contract and building contract
The developer/builder provides the land and building contracts to the buyer or the buyer's representing solicitor. The buyer signs after consulting their own solicitor and fully understanding the contracts; the developer/builder then signs the corresponding contracts, and the purchase contract becomes effective.
3. Apply for FIRB approval
Overseas buyers submit a purchase application to the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB). This step applies only to overseas buyers. The process is generally completed with the assistance of the buyer's representing solicitor. The fee is charged based on the land price.
For details, see -
Latest 2026-2027 financial year update on Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) fees
Application fees are tiered according to the property value; for the fee schedule, seethe Australian Treasury's foreign investment fees guidance
4. Pay land and building deposit
Within the time specified in the contract (usually 7 or 14 calendar days), buyers must pay 10% of the land amount as a deposit, which must be paid into the developer's solicitor's trust account. At the same time, a 5% building deposit is paid to the builder's designated account. Overseas clients who require a loan can borrow up to 70% of the total value of the land and building contracts, and Aobo Realty provides assistance with loan applications.
5. Land settlement
After the land title is registered, the land settlement process takes place. Buyers pay the balance of the land amount and the land stamp duty, at which point the land title is transferred into the buyer's name. This process is completed independently by the developer's and buyer's solicitors.
6. Apply building permit
After receiving confirmation that the land transfer to the buyer has been successful, the builder must attend to the relevant building approval procedures and carry out preparatory work. This process generally takes around one month.
7. Start building and pay by installment
The construction process of an Australian house is mainly divided into five stages: slab, frame, lock-up, fixing and complete. At the end of each stage, the building contract sets out in detail the amount payable for that stage. On completing each stage, the builder conducts an inspection for that stage and issues the corresponding invoice, and once the inspection is passed, the buyer must pay the builder the amount for that stage in accordance with the contract.
8. Final inspection and Building Insurance
After the house is completed, the builder provides Form 21 (Final Inspection Certificate). Upon receiving this form, the buyer must arrange the corresponding building insurance. The builder will invite the buyer or the buyer's representative to attend the inspection. Any issues found during the inspection will be recorded, and the builder will subsequently arrange for repairs. If the buyer requires a professional building inspector to issue a formal inspection report, Aobo Realty can assist in arranging this.
9. House handover
The buyer pays the balance of the property, the builder and the buyer/property manager complete the handover, and the buyer can then move into the new house. For investment properties that are not owner-occupied, Aobo Realty will arrange leasing shortly afterwards.
10. Update on FIRBstatus (Update on FIRB)
The buyer needs to log into their FIRB account and update the construction status, confirming to Australia's FIRB that construction has been completed in accordance with the building conditions required at the time of the previous FIRB approval, and enter the completion date of the house.
For the requirements on submitting proof of completion, see the Australian Taxation Office:Residential property applications and variations